Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-04
CATARRH.

THE TERM CATARRH IS APPLIED TO A
i peculiar disorder of the nOstrils and ad-
jacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent and is productive of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic,
feature is a morbid discharge from the head
varying in its nature at different times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
of clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco-purulent, greenish-yellcw
matter is secreted, which aceumulates in
the nOstr1ls or drops into the throat, neces-
stating its frequent removal by blowing the
nose or expectoration, and often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their head was in q state of rotten
ness, SO great is the amount of matter dis
charged and SO fetid is its odor. The pa
tient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat. of the mot bid
position naturally favors the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie ith
the head very much elevated in order to
sleep with some degree OF comfort.
In others tough, viscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the threat and
head, adherirg to the parts with gluish tenac-
lty. Its lodgment embarrasseB respiration
and creates sensation of irritation Ind un-
easiness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to constant and almost irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mucus into the throat 80 as to eject it by
the mouth. This practice, popularity known
as .'hawking," is characteristic of eatarrh,
and proves as embarrassing to the one af
fected as it is disagreeable to those around
him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane in the shape
OF dry, hard concretions, which are dis
charged by way of the nostrils or throat in
Jumps or fragments of a deep green tint In
some cases these incrustations accumulate
to such an extent as to form a, regular plug
in the nose, which obstructs breathing and
produce serious discomfort So firmly do
these incrustations adhere to the point of
attachment that their removal usually re-
quires the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have to be torn from the mem
| brane. Occasionally a solid cast OF notable
| size is expelled, on which there are generally
traces of blood, but in some cases the cast
presents tubular appearance, being of exact
shape OF the nasal cavity. This condition is
| indicative of liberation, which, in time,
| may destroy the bony structure of the nose
| and produce subsequent fiattening of that
organ.
| thick, visCid, slimy secretion coats the
membrane of the nasal cavities and then
putrefes, giving rise to a stencil which is
really overpowering,, and sufficiently fetid
and there are others in which all the secre-
tions of the membrane are suspended, caus-
| ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feverishness in the head and nose-a
condition condition popularly known as DRY
The disease speedily extends to the air
| cavities of the bones of the forehead and
face, giving rise to dist essing sensation of
heavy weight or compression over the fore
head, especially in the region above and be-
tween the eyes, and to a feeling OF fulness,
heat, irritation, sore ness or pal in the nos
t[iis M near near the root 30 OF the nose, as well as in
hind the soft palate. Sometimes there is
pain obstinately fixed in some particular
part as In the temple, on the top of the
| head, at the back of the neck, or behind the
orbits, and, occasionally, pain manifests
| itself in the face of SO severe a character
| that it is frequently mistaken for neuralgia.
Thebreath is always tainted, and at times
| assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes so revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
| object of disgust to himself as well as to
others. - =
The nasal membrane is thickened and
contested, causing the nose to be stopped up,
| sometimes on one side, sometimes on the
other, and often on both, giving rise to a
| disagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head,
| and occasioning violent and prolonged
parOXysms of sneeZing.
The voice is weak, Indistinct and husky,
or Of nasal character, displaying a sort of
smiling quality. Oftentimes there is a con-
tinuous hoarseness and discordance. There
is also sense of irritation in the part,
| and frequent attempts to clear the throat of
phlegm, producing the sound "hem," more
complain of an uncomfortable feeling of
fullness, or a choky sensation in the throat,
| and in others of distressing and almost
| constant dryness, for the temporary relief Of
| Others; again, speak of a constant bad or
| nauseous taste in the mouth OF throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or less
and becomes weak and irritable: the appe-
tte Is capric1ous and nearly always bad in
| the morning. The patient is languid, unable
to perform mental or physical labor with
| the usual facility, is nervous, depressed in
spirits, at times fearful, timid, agitated and
Iinclined to drowsiness and sleep, the mem
| Ory weakened and permanent impairment
seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to, unfavorable influ-
| ences, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, so
| that at last breath of wind upon the lining
| OF the nose or throat becomes productive o.
| cold, and gives rise to serious disturbances
| is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggravating the disease by CIV
| Ing 1t new impulse and involving larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In
| this manner the difficulty spreads from Or
gan to organ, invading the throat, larnyx,
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
erOaching further and further, 1t reaches
| the finer ramifcations of the bronchi, when
but a slight impulse is required to send it to
the lungs. Catarrh may, and often does,
affect other organs in the body, especially
tnOse containing mucous membrane, Sucn
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment Of proper inhalatlons
in the form of medicated vapor (not steam
| or spray) we are able to produce immediate
and direct action upon the disceased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages for air
will find its way into the most remote and
intricate cavities, where 1t is utterly impos-
sible to make fluid applications By these
means every ease can be cured.
Persons desiring treatment by this system
of practice can use the remedy at home as
well as at our office, and which will cause
no inconvenience or hindrance to business
whatever.
have seen SO many Of these cases cured
that do not consider any case hopeless un-
less the disease has advanced to the chest
and that both lungs are seriously involved.
Even then the inhalations aid us in dis
solving the mucus and in contracting and
healing the cavities, which nothing else can
do with the same success. The very best
references from those already cured.